Our landmark “Translational Medicine Explained – TMex” 2024 course took place in Barcelona on 22-25 October, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out.
25 PhD students, postdocs, young translational scientists and patient representatives from all over Europe took part in this intense and interactive course: 4 days to learn how research can be successfully translated from the laboratory to the clinic from real-life scenarios presented by experts in the field and group assignments about the elements needed for successfully translating biomedical research into patient benefit. Before attending the 4-day course, our 8-hour e-learning course “Introduction to translational medicine” equipped participants with the essential knowledge to make the most of the course.
“The translational medicine course was exceptionally well-organised, demonstrating a high level of professionalism throughout. The speakers were not only engaging but also respected experts in the field, adding substantial depth to each presentation. While the course was intensive, its structure was carefully crafted to maintain participants’ attention and make the extensive material approachable. The programme featured numerous interactive sessions, which made it easier to absorb knowledge and actively involve everyone. The organisers also created a welcoming atmosphere that helped ease any stress or hesitation, encouraging full engagement in the activities. Overall, this course delivers a wealth of valuable insights and practical skills.”
Iga Stukan, PhD Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland (on image)
Covering topics as diverse as target validation, patient engagement and entrepreneurship, the course has the following learning objectives, where participants attending the course are now able to:
- Describe the key steps and questions to be addressed when translating scientific discoveries into medical products;
- Define the different stakeholders and multidisciplinary experts involved in translation and the importance of strong partnerships;
- Recognise the importance of collaborating with patients and demonstrate strategies for engagement;
- Examine key translational medicine bottlenecks and opportunities.
To achieve these objectives, interactive sessions and lectures led by experts in the field were proposed. Let us highlight just a few:
- The Repurpolis board game, developed by Rosan Vegter: navigate the complex journey of bringing a repurposing drug candidate to patients. Work your way through real-world challenges, from formulation, preclinical and clinical research, patient engagement, funding, regulatory interactions to commercialization, and patient access.
- “Escape to the cloud” boardgame, developed by Sarah Morgan, where players need to solve a series of translational data challenges set initially by their PI to escape their postdoc office and reach the cloud… while learning about FAIR and open science!
- VHIR researcher Ramón Martí Seves explained the rewarding journey from understanding a rare disease (TK2 deficiency) to successfully treating patients, with a strong focus on compassionate use
- Davide Cirillo, head of the Machine Learning for Biomedical Research Unit at Barcelona Supercomputing Centre and co-editor of the book Sex and Gender Bias in Technology and Artificial Intelligence: Biomedicine and Healthcare Applications (Elsevier Academic Press 2022), talked about Sex & Gender aspects in translational research
- Ana Martins Ribeiro, Education Project Manager at VHIR, hosted a reflection session on careers in biomedicine that opened up participants’ perspectives on their careers.
Participants were very enthusiastic about the course, with a 100% recommendation rate:
“The TMex course has given me essential insights about my current research projects, the direction I need to take the research in and also about my future career. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone interested in Translational Medicine!” Rebecca Andersson, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
A huge thanks to our expert speakers, co-organiser Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) – Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, and supporter Fundación ”la Caixa”. Most importantly, heartfelt gratitude to our amazing participants who brought their energy and full engagement every day!
We are already looking forward to the next TMex edition in autumn 2025 in Barcelona. Together, we’re advancing the future of medicine.
